FHP: 3 injured in Interstate 295 crash

3 taken to hospital after crash at Normandy Boulevard exit

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Highway Patrol says two adults and a child were taken to the hospital Tuesday night after a two-vehicle crash along Interstate 295.

Troopers say a Chevrolet Tahoe was southbound on I-295 just past the Normandy Boulevard exit about 8 p.m. when the driver changed lanes, hitting a Toyota Camry.  The SUV driver lost control and the vehicle left the road, hit the median guardrail, continued back across all southbound lanes and off the side of the highway and struck a fence.

The FHP says driver of the Tahoe, Vernita Young, 55, and 5-year-old Maliyana Defoe were seriously injured and taken to UF Health Jacksonville.  A second passenger in the SUV, 23-year-old Mathias Defoe, was also taken to UF Health with minor injuries.

Troopers say the driver of the Camry, Hoang Le, 26, was not injured.

All southbound lanes of I-295 were closed for about an hour while the accident was investigated and cleared. 

FHP cited Young for improper lane change.